Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - August 5, 2007
Claire Keeton

Soul City star Rantsatsi Rantsatsi, best known for his character Mandla, says he got a real wake-up call about HIV back in 2005.

The 24-year-old discovered he had TB and he knew of its close link to HIV. Prompted by his TB result, he went for an HIV test and was relieved it was negative.

"I decided to play it safe and I stopped drinking and smoking. But I'm not a saint yet," he said, laughing.

Rantsatsi and his popular co-stars Lilian Dube (Sister Bettina) and Khanyiso Crowder (Naledi), are the latest celebrities to join the Each One Reach Five HIV testing campaign.

The three stars, accompanied by Soul City's senior executive for media, Lebo Ramafoko, and senior executive for social mobilisation, Aadielah Maker, got tested at an HIV clinic in downtown Johannesburg, known as ZuziMpilo Medical Centre. Their presence stirred up much excitement.

Rantsatsi, who was accompanied by his brother and a friend, plans to recruit many more volunteers to do HIV tests.

"Testing should change behaviour. It is about living positively, with HIV or without it," he said.

The charismatic Dube said she was always telling other people to get tested and felt it was time to act herself.

But she warned: "Even if I test negative, it does not mean I've passed anything. The challenge is to stay negative. An hour after testing negative anyone could go and have sex without a condom, then that person would no longer be safe."

Dube feels that confidentiality about testing is a problem.

"We should be open about our results. They should not be a secret. If something is a secret, then everyone wants to know it.

"If HIV was not such a secret, it would not have such stigma."

Dube said people living with HIV should be as open as diabetics, who wear diabetic bangles.

Crowder, who is coupled with Rantsatsi in Soul City, said she felt intimidated about taking an HIV test.

"I had a test back in 2002, when I had my son, but I did not feel nervous then. I was a just a naive girl," she said.

"Nowadays I know so many kids from my school with HIV that it is more scary."

She said: "Everyone is talking about HIV but, as much as they know, young people are still not practising safe sex. They make the mistake of thinking it will not happen to them."

This dangerous illusion is one of the forces fuelling the HIV epidemic.

ZuziMpilo project director Dr Tinyiko Khosa and her colleague Dr Neil Martinson of the Wits Perinatal HIV Research Unit said they had put more than 300 people on antiretroviral treatment since they opened their doors last December.

They took their commitment to fighting Aids one step further by joining the Each One Reach Five campaign. ZuziMpilo medics and counsellors are committed to promoting HIV testing. For example, on Valentine's Day they offered couples "two-for-the-price-of-one" tests.

The clinic, which looks as smart as any private hospital, provides specialised HIV treatment at a subsidised cost.

Aimed at workers who can't afford medical aid, it represents an effort to bridge the gap between expensive private care and inefficient public health services.

The clinic is also breaking new ground by offering immediate HIV treatment to anyone who tests positive at its premises. Without delay or extra cost, people who test positive have a CD4 count done, to test the strength of their immune system. They are also screened for TB.

The results help doctors to decide whether the person should join their wellness programme or commence TB or antiretroviral therapy.

The clinic is reaching out to workers with no medical cover, who earn less than R12000 a month, to loved ones who can pay for their partners or to employers who can pay for employees.

A winter special is being offered on the clinic's HIV care, wellness programme and antiretroviral therapy.

ZuziMpilo also provides HIV testing services at workplaces, at a subsidised cost. The project is already generating enough income to cover about a quarter of its treatment costs.

ZuziMpilo is an initiative of the Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU) and is supported by USAid through the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar).

ZuziMpilo's contact details are 086-046-7456 or 011-336-2860/1 or e-mail zuzimpilo@hivsa.com. It is at 59 Joubert Street (cnr Joubert and Jeppe streets), 2nd floor Ansteys Building. Visit its website at www.zuzimpilo.co.za

Dube's volunteers for the campaign are her friends Pule Dube, Isaac Mabhikwa, Sam Phillips, Boitumelo Mmopi and Boikie Mohlamme.

Rantsatsi's volunteers are his brother Tsatsi Rantsatsi and his friends Solofelang Maake, Nthato Nkosi, Sechaba Tsotetsi and Vuyisele Buthelezi.

Crowder's volunteers are her sisters, Winnie and Connie Mathe, her brother Fana Dlamini and her friends Thembela Khamango and Nellie Maphosa.

Martinson's volunteers are Dr Angie Mathee, his wife Tanvier Omar, Bruce Martinson, Cathy Stadler and Dr Charles Carter.

Khosa's volunteers are Dr Ntomboxolo Bandezi, Dr Olga Nkuna, Dr Nkateko Masingi, Mrs Nkensani Mabunda and Advocate Sam Makamu.

Ramafoko's volunteers are Lesego Ramafoko, Neo Ramafoko, William Mapham, Tembi Tyuku and Tyrone Parks.

Maker signed up her colleagues John Molefe, Katia de Silva, Natasha le Pere, Megan Wade and Nelisiwe Hlope, her friend Megan Pascali and Department of Education employees Sofie Ngcobo and Thuli Nagel.

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